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Compassionate Ministry to Alzheimer’s, Strokes, & AIDS: Reaching the Unreachable

Learn about Alzheimer’s disease, strokes, and AIDS, and how to provide effective pastoral care to those affected. Discover practical tips, insights, and resources for supporting individuals and families facing these challenging conditions.

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Compassionate Ministry to Alzheimer’s, Strokes, & AIDS: Reaching the Unreachable

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  1. Alzheimer’s, Strokes, & AIDS Ministry to the “Unreachable & Untouchable”

  2. Alzheimer’s Disease 1 • An organic disease conclusively diagnosable only through brain tissue examination (biopsy or post mortem) • Brain atrophy is usually present on CT or MRI • Cognitive deficits develop slowly & deterioration is progressive. • Avg. life expectancy from onset to death is 8 to 10 years; great variance.

  3. Alzheimer’s 2 • Memory & other cognitive deficits occur early; motor dysfunction occurs late. • First-degree relatives of early onset (< age 65) are at increased risk • Signature characteristics: memory & language impairment (aphasia, apraxia, agnosia, disturbance in executive functioning)

  4. Ten A’s for Alzheimer’s Care 1 • Arguments are useless • Allow freedom & independence (safety!) • Actions help when verbalizations fail • Assume that they hear & understand • Appreciate good days or moments

  5. Ten A’s for Alzheimer’s Care 2 • Appropriate activities help pass time • Adapt the task to ability • Agitation alleviated by calm, reassuring, respectful responses • Adults are still adults (mental vs. social) • Assessment is ongoing

  6. Pastoral Care & Alzheimer’s • Care of Person & Family (Caregivers) • They remain a spiritual being despite cognitive losses. • Talk, pray, sing, read Scripture • Face your own uneasiness & don’t be in a hurry; visual cues of who you are. • KISP – “Keep It Simple, Pastor” (or KISS)

  7. Stroke (CVA) Victims 1 • CVA = Cardio-vascular accident • Typically occurs at night when blood flow slows • Thrombotic, hemorrhagic, embolic, & compression (worst prognosis) CVA’s • Better prognosis (1st three) if survive the first 30 days

  8. Stroke (CVA) Victims 2 • Left-Brain Injury = right hemiplegia & speech disturbance • Right Brain Injury = left hemiplegia & perceptual problems • Effects: emotional changes (organic) > crying inappropriately [swearing]; bladder incontinence

  9. Stroke (CVA) Victims 3 • Emotional Response: Panic – fear that God has deserted me; fear of death, insanity; feel complete hopelessness • Family often takes 100% responsibility for the stroke • Fears person will live as a vegetable • Fears person will die • Help family tolerate the panic

  10. AIDS: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome • Caused by HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) • Death often comes through opportunistic diseases such as Pneumocystis cariniipneumonia. Kaposi’s sarcoma (cancer) also is common. • AIDS is incurable

  11. Ministry to Persons with AIDS 1 • Condemn? No. Condone? No. • Reconciliation & Comfort? Yes! • Do not be afraid to touch or hug • CONFIDENTIALITY is a must!! • Many are rejected by family, friends, & church community. Need a loving, caring, holy community.

  12. Ministry to Persons with AIDS 2 • The primary pastoral response will be to the grief associated with AIDS • Taking a leadership role in encouraging support by the church & community • If God’s children do not care, who will? • What Biblical/theological warrant is there for neglecting those afflicted with AIDS? • Wherein is God glorified?

  13. AIDS & Ministry Resources • Amos, William E, Jr. When AIDS Comes to Church. Westminster, 1988. • Hoffman, Patricia L. AIDS and the Sleeping Church. Eerdmans, 1995 • Shelp, Earl E., Ronald H. Sunderland, & Peter W.A. Mansell. AIDS: Personal Stories in Pastoral Perspective. Pilgrim Press, 1986.

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